Yum says soft sales to continue in 4Q

LOUISVILLEKy. Yum! Brands Inc., fresh on reporting an 18-percent, year-to-year jump in third-quarter profit on the strength of its overseas operations, said the current fourth quarter will be particularly hard for its U.S. business as sales will remain soft and benefits from lower commodities will trail off.

The U.S. business at Yum Brands, which franchises KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and the Long John Silver’s brands, reported an operating profit jump of 18 percent f